The artwork titled “Nurse and Child” was created by the artist Mary Cassatt between the years 1896 and 1897. This piece utilizes the medium of pastel on paper and is classified under the genre painting category, which depicts scenes from everyday life. Cassatt’s work is often associated with the Impressionism movement, renowned for its approach to capturing the effects of light with an emphasis on the accurate portrayal of color and a sense of immediacy.
In “Nurse and Child,” Cassatt’s skillful use of pastel creates a tender and intimate scene of a caregiver and a young child. The nurse, whose face is rendered with subtle variations in tone that suggest a calm and attentive demeanor, holds the child closely. The child, on the other hand, gazes upward with an expression of trust and contentment.
The artist employs soft, feathery strokes that imbue the composition with a gentle atmosphere, characteristic of many of Cassatt’s depictions of the mother and child theme—one she explored extensively throughout her career. The choice of warm colors enhances the intimate and nurturing ambiance of the scene. The nurse’s clothing and the child’s white garment are highlighted with touches of vibrant color, which serve to draw the viewer’s eye and emphasize the closeness of the figures.
This pastel eloquently embodies the essence of the Impressionist movement’s fascination with the subtleties of lighting and everyday subject matter, bringing a moment of serene domesticity to life through Cassatt’s masterful touch.
